Mechanical inking apparatus



(No Model.)

M. B. TEMPLIN. MECHANICAL INKING APPARATUS.

Patented June 8,1897.

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UNITED STATES A PATENT @rrrcn.

MARK B. TEMPLIN, OF OALLA, OHIO.

MECHANICAL INKING APPARATUS.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,247, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed April 1 8, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MARK B. TEMPLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Calla, in the county of Mahoning, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inking Apparatus for Printing-Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved inking apparatus or mechanical agitator attachable to the inking-fountain of cylinder and other printing-presses.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide by a mechanical agitator, automatic in its operation, a continuous and positive supply of ink to the ink-fountain roller as long as any ink remains in the fountain; second, to secure by a continuous movement of the agitator from end to end of fountain a uniform distribution of ink at all points in the fountain, regardless of the quantity used from any point in the same; third, to reduce to the minimum all troubles arising from the failure of the ink to adhere to the fountainrcller. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a top view of the inking apparatus as attached to the ink-fountain of a cylinder printing-press. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the entire apparatus or agitator, showing its position with reference to the fountain-roller and ink-blade or bottom of ink-fountain. Fig. 3 is a front elevation or view'of the driving or propelling mechanism of the main shaft or screw and movable head. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the fork, which by meshing into the threads (right and left) on the main propelling shaft or screw drives the agitator from end to end of the fountain. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed top view of the automatic reversible mechanism of the agitator.

Similar letters of reference apply to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. l, A represents the main propelling shaft or screw, attachable to the frame of printing press or machine by brackets or arms,

Serial in. 588,184. (No model.)

as indicated by the dotted lines p p at ends of shaft A, their length and form being determined by the shape of the frame and position of ink-fountain of the printing-machine to which apparatus is to be attached, said shaft A having cut on part of its length right and left or reverse threads or screws in such a manner and position as to carry the movable head B, Figs. 2 and 3, which carries the arm A B and agitator C D from end to end of fountain.

Y Movable head B is propelled laterally from end to end of fountain by fork F Fig. 4, meshing into threads of reverse screw on main shaft A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, fork F being pivotally attached to the movable head B by bearing or journal G, which is secured in position by bolts 7t h or otherwise. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

Main shaft or screw A may be rotated by belt on small pulley L, or by sprocket-wheel and chain, idle and spur gears, or bevel-gears placed at or near either end of shaft A, as the nature or the construction of the machine to which attachment is desired may require, a clutch 0r ratchet being necessary in either case to connect driving gear or pulley L to shaft or screw A to enable pressman or operator to move agitator by hand-wheel M independent of movement of press, as is usually necessary when filling or cleaning fountain.

Arm A B, to end of which agitator proper is pivotally attached, as shown in Fig. 2, is preferably made separable from movable head B to facilitate the changing of color or the speedy and thorough cleaning of fountain, both of which usually require removal of fountain-blade on the plane indicated by dotted lines g. Arm A B is secured to movable head B by bolt or bolts mm, Fig. 2. To relieve said bolt or bolts from lateral strain caused by resistance offered by ink in contact with agitator-blades D, it is preferably inserted in a groove or recess 6 on top of movable head B, as shown in Fig. 3.

To that end of arm A B extending over and into ink-trough is pivotally attached a Y- shaped arm, or the agitator proper, to the side arms of which is attached by screws or otherwise wings 0r blades D, preferably of light and smooth metal. These wings or blades extend at such an angle from the main ICO arm or body of agitator O as to cause the rear arm, as agitator advances, to move at such angle with reference to the fountain-roller R as to force ink into contact with fountainroller, while the other wing or blade in advance, lies parallel to roller R. (See Fig. 1.)

The ends of the agitator wings or bladesD nearest the fountain-roller R are deeply notched, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow the greater part of the ink to pass through as it is forced against fountain-roller by the forward movement of the agitator, only sufficient being carried before the blades to insure a constant supply to fountain-roller B.

To the ends of the fountain O are attached curved reversing-shoes H H by bolt or bolts K, or preferably by hinge J, rendering it easily turned out of fountain when cleaning same.

Near the outer ends, and at the upper edge of the agitator wings or blades D, are secured pins I I, (shown in section in Fig. 2,) which engage the shoes H H as the agitator approaches the ends of fountain, causing the agitator to automatically reverse simultaneous with reversal of movable head B. where the construction and position of fountain will not permit the use of shoes H H, or it is desirable to leave fountain more open and easy of access for filling or cleaning, the reversal of the agitator-blades may be secured by extending the end of spring bearing-rod E several inches beyond pivotal bolt 0, as indicated by dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2, this extension to engage the ends of rearwardly and laterally extending reversing or stop arms 00. Extension of rod E and stop arms 0 0 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

To the main or larger arm of C, Fig. 5, is pivotally attached, by bolt or screw, rod E, which passes through the head of pivotal bolt 0, Figs. 2 and 5. On this rod E, and between pivotal end of main arm of O and pivotal bolt 0, is a spiral spring X, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, in compressed tension of sufficient strength to overcome resistance ofiered by ink to agitatorblades D D and hold agitator in normal position against stop-pins a a in end of arm A B.

In Fig. 2, S represents in section a guiderod (shown also in Fig. 3) parallel with and below main shaft or screw A used for the purpose of holding agitator in normal position in fountain. This rod S is held in position by means of downwardly-extending shaft-bearing arm, forming a part of shaft-bearing brackets 17 19, (indicated by dotted lines-in Fig. 2,) or in any way best suited to the construction of the machine to which attachment is desired.

The bearing in movable head B, through which. shaft or screw A passes, is preferably made quite long, as shown in Fig. 3, to prevent wearing and consequent lost motion by the lateral strain on agitator-arm, caused by resistance offered by ink in fountain.

When only a partial cleaning of fountain is necessary, the agitator proper, C D, may be easily and quickly removed by removal of bolt or screw (Z. (Shown in section in Fig. 2.)

From the foregoing it will be readily understood how I secure by my attachment a constant and positive adherence of the ink to the fountain-roller regardless of the consistency of the ink whether tackey or short, so called, and that I am thereby enabled to produce impressions perfectly uniform in color as long as any ink remains in the fountain.

It is evident that to render my invention applicable and attachable to the fountains of the many sizes and forms of printingpresses now in the market and in use many changes might be found necessary in the shape, relative size of parts, means of attaclr,

ment, &c., from the construction herein described without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the exact form of construction shown; but, I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, ,is

1. In a printing-press, in combination, an inking-fountain, a fountain-roller, a mechanically-operated ink-agitator, having reversible ink-blades, and mechanism for propelling same from end to end of fountain, and mechanism for alternately reversing of ink-blades, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-press the combination of an ink-fountain, a mechanically-operated agitator, comprising the head B, arm A B, blades 0 D, with the fork F, the continuously-rotatingshaft A, provided with the intersecting right and left hand screw-threads, a pulley and a hand-wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press, in combination with inking-fountain, and fountain-roller, a mechanicallyoperated agitator, comprising head B, fork F, with means for propelling same as described, arm A B removably attached to head and carrying reversible ink-blades D; said blades alternately reversed at ends of fountain simultaneously with reverse movement of head by stop-pins in upper edge of ink-blades coming into contact with curved shoes H, or stop-arms 0, at ends of fountain, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a printing-press, in combination with inking-fountain, a mechanically-operated agitator, comprising head, fork, removable arm and means for propelling same from end to end of fountain, reversible ink-blades carried by said arm and means for reversing as described; the lower edge of ink-blades moving close to or in contact with bottom of fountain, the ends of blades nearest fountainroller deeply notched to allow passage of ink between blades and fountain roller only, thereby securing positive contact, substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

5. In a printingpress, in combination with inking fountain, a mechanically operated agitator, comprising head, fork, removable arm carrying reversible ink-blades, with means for propelling from end to end of fountain, ink-blades alternately reversed at ends of fountain by curved shoes as described; reversible ink-blades held in normal position and continuous contact with ink by compressed spring on spring bearing-rod E, said spring of sufifieient strength to overcome resistance offered by ink against ink-blades; substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afliX my signature to this specification, in the presence of two Witnesses, this 15th day of April, 1896.

MARK B. TEMPLIN.

Vitnesses:

JAMES C. KIRK, DAISY M. KING. 

